Darkness comes before the light

Original Date: 1/30/2009

So, my perspective has changed on trials. Rick Joyner's book is awesome by the way. I definitely recommend getting his stuff. So, here goes:

1. Genesis 1:5 - And there was evening and there was morning, one day. So, the point of this is that evening always comes before the morning. Or, there is darkness before the dawn.

2. This is the same in the spiritual realm - there is a period of darkness before the light. Oppression is usually the greatest before being set free."The great saints of Scripture usually went through a period of darkness before they were brought forth into the purposes of God."

3. The whole purpose for the contrast is to show the glory of God. God cannot show us His glory if there is not a contrast between good and evil. Again, why does darkness exist? To show God's light. Our testing is designed to bring us to a greater measure of faith and to purify our hearts.

4. There is a wilderness before there is a fulfilled promise. But, be careful and ready to go when God calls. If He calls you into a promise and you miss the appropriate time, it may be some time before you will get an open window again.

5. I saw an example of this the other day. There was a lady at a red light behind two other cars waiting to turn left. She wasn't ready when the light turned green. When she finally came to attention, the light had already changed and her chance to turn had passed. Now she would have to wait to go for a time.

6. Every trial in our lives is to do several things:

1. Conform us to the image of christ
2. Bring us to a place of maturity
3. Build our faith and hope in Him
4. Prepare us so that He can trust us with more authority to do the works He did.

7. Therefore, we should not shun trials but rejoice in them. We should see every test as an opportunity. We know that after darkness comes the light. We know that God is allowing the testing. We also know that God will not give us anything too big that we can't handle. So, we should welcome trials gladly. The trials help us attain the new measure of Faith and glory and maturity and authority that He has for us.